Robyn Lyn Robbins

Robyn Lyn Robbins was born in Durango on an Easter weekend April 4, 1958, to Ralph “Eddie” and Dixie Robbins. As a brown-eyed beauty, Robyn was the second child and was welcomed by her older sister of 18 months, Deana Kaye, to the Robbins Family Ranch, where she would spend most of her life. She was later joined by her two younger brothers, Richard Vern, born March 28, 1959, and Wesley Lee, born April 11, 1961.

Robyn grew up with a tremendous love for animals and life, and liked spending time outside. She would come up with many excuses to be outside instead of helping sister, Deana, with household chores.Robyn was an avid horsewoman, and she and her horse, Pocahontas, would spend the majority of the hours of their days together running and racing in the outdoors. It was a hard lesson learned that you should not run a horse home when she ended up in the ditch with scrapes and bruises. Robyn’s love of animals brought many strays home and begged her mom and dad to let her nurse them back to health.

Robyn attended Mancos Schools in first through 12th grades. She was very active in school playing volleyball and basketball, running track and cheerleading for all the boys’ games. Robyn graduated high school in 1976 and maintained close relationships with most of her graduating class.

Robyn attended Rocky Mountain College in Glenwood Springs to become a veterinarian technician. She returned home before finishing her degree because she was homesick. Robyn then married her high school sweetheart, David Archibeque, in September 1977 on the Robbins Ranch. They made their home in Mancos. Robyn worked at Safeway as a cashier in Cortez for many years, which helped perpetuate her love for people and ability to strike up conversations.

After she and David went their separate ways, Robyn became more involved with her parents in the ranch work. She met her second husband while working in Disappointment Valley, and it was out of this relationship that Robyn’s dream came true. She became a mother to a precious baby girl, Autumn Lyn, on Sept. 24, 1988. Robyn cherished the new life inside of her and every moment as a mother. She was so excited that she had a baby girl of her very own, one to dress up, play with, nurture and love unconditionally.

In a horse accident in 1990, she fractured her pelvis and was flown to Denver and spent months in rehab. David then came back into her life and played a role in caring for Autumn while Robyn recovered. Robyn and David built a home together caring for Autumn in the years to follow.

After recovery, Robyn returned to school and obtained her associate’s degree in bilingual education through Pueblo Community College. She frequently substituted and made lifelong impressions for so many of the children’s lives she touched. Robyn continued her work on the ranch and built a life of her own in the cattle business. Not only did she have cattle and horses, but she had her very own petting zoo equipped with goats, sheep, pot belly pigs, rabbits, ferrets, chickens, turkeys, donkeys, raccoons, skunks, peacocks and many, many cats and dogs. Robyn supplemented her income as a rancher by working at the Millwood as a waitress and bartender. Many patrons could bend Robyn’s ear in light of her love for people.

Anyone who knew Robyn has been touched by her laughter and smile. Robyn was quick to respond to everyone else in need but had difficulty dealing with her own. Robyn persevered through the trials and tribulations in her life, but they took a toll on her physically and emotionally. She will be remembered as a loving, caring, compassionate person and a great friend, sister, daughter and mother.

Robyn is preceded in death by her parents and two younger brothers. Robyn is survived by her great-grandmother, Betty Dillon, sister Deana and her husband Don Yeomans; daughter Autumn and her husband Bradley Dennison; niece Karassa and her husband Dan Schaefer; niece Brianna Yeomans; niece Jori White; nephew Kole Yeomans and niece Shacee Robbins; great-niece Teya Yeomans and great-nephews Traycer and Trevyn White and Wesley Schaefer and many family and friends.

Memorial contributions may be made to Mancos Valley Bank. Contributions will be dispersed to charities.